Massaging device



Stu 311 27, 1949. CARLSQN 2,482,838

MASSAGING DEVICE Filed Nov. 4; 1947 INVENTOR.

A itch/ veg ticularly applicable to Patented Sept. 27, 1949 Elmer R. Carlson, Galva, Ill. Application November 4, 194?,Seiial No. 783,881

My invention relates to massaging devices for massaging the human body and/ or parts thereof. While my invention is capable of massaging any body part, the device of my invention is parthe massaging of the forehead and temples of the user for the relief of headaches.

It is well-known that many sufferers from headaches obtain prompt relief upon the application of massage to their foreheads and temples. However, self-massage of these portions of the head is difficult, and very tiring to the hands, arms, and fingers of the sufferer. Also, as a general rule, the sufferer cannot count upon a friend 'to massage his forehead and temples. Consequently, many headache sufferers are unable to obtain relief which would be readily obtainable could they be subjected to a massage treatment.

With the foregoing in view, it is an object of my invention to provide an improved apparatus for self-massage. 1

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus for self-massage which comprises a frame, opposed massage members carried by said frame, and movable thereon, towards and away from each other, spring means loading said members for movement towards each other, and said frame being adapted to be placed about a body part with said opposed members resiliently engaging opposite side surfaces of said body part during massaging movement of said frame.

Other objects and advantages reside in'the particular structure of the invention, combination and arrangement of the several parts thereof, 1

and in the particular mode of operation, all of which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the attached drawing in connection with the following specification wherein the invention is shown, describedand claimed.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3. is a pictorial view showing diagrammatically an initial step in one manner of using the invention; and

Fig. 4 is a view like Fig. 2 showing a second stage of one method of using the invention.

Referring specifically to the drawing, wherein like reference characters have been used throughout to designate like parts, In designates generally each of a pair of substantially identical frame members. Each frame member ID comprises a 6 Claims. (01. 12862) :7. bight II, the opposite ends of which merge into laterally spacedand substantially parallel legs 12. The frame members ID are adapted to be superimposed upon eachother so that they are coextensive, and the free ends of the legs l2 are connected together by suitable pivot means l3.

The massaging elements of my invention comprise a pair of substantially L-shaped levers 20, each of which includes a massaging arm 2| and a fulcrum arm 22. The'fulcrum 22 of each lever is interposed between a pair of superimposed legs l2 of the frame and the free end of such fulcrum armis fulcrumed to thepivots l3. *An outer portion-of each fulcrum arm 22 is formed with a suitable extension or ear 23 for'the attachment ofone end of a contractive coil spring 24. The opposite end of each coil spring 24 is connected to an ear or lug l5'formed integrally with a leg I2 of the frame members It). The free end of the massage arms 2! are each formed with a massage head 25 which is preferably surfaced with soft material, such as chamois, sponge rubber, or the like.

Eachfulcrum arm 22 of each lever 20 is providedwith a suitable stop member 26, which is engagable with an outer edge portion of a frame 'leg I2 to limit pivotal'movement of each lever in one direction. 'As is readily apparent'from Figs. 1 and 3, the springs 24 load the lever 20 for movement .inppposite directions on their :pivots I3, and the'stop members ZGlimit-such movement so that the massaging arm 2| of the -levers; are normally laterally aligned with the "massaging heads 2'5 thereof positioned in near as abutting relation. Tteferring' to Figs. 3 and 4, the onemanner of using theidevice of the invention is disclosed.

' The'headache sufferer grasps. the bights l I of the frame andfbring's the massaging heads into contact with his forehead centrally thereof just above the eybrows. The bights l I are now moved "towards the users forehead until the massaging heads have traversed across the forehead and temples of the user. During the travel of the frame from the Fig. 3 to the Fig. 4 position, the

massaging heads 25 havebeen resiliently pressed into contact with the users forehead and temples Y by'thespring'sik' whereby to' exert an agreeable pressure against the afflicted parts during the travel of the frame. After the frame has reached the Fig 4 position, the user may reciprocate it back to the Fig. 3 position, and continue to repeat the massage until the headache is relieved. However, if the user wishes to massage only in a front to rear direction, he need only squeeze the bights l I together against the action of the interposed spring ltl whereby the leg members I2 will be squeezed into contact with the lever arms 2| to hold them in the retracted or Fig. 1 position. Thus, the frames can be removed from the head without repeating the massage when returning the said frame to the Fig. 3 position.

Obviously, the same massage technique may be utilized to massage other body portions, but I have found that the device of the invention is particularly applicable to headache sufferers. The frame members and levers may be made of any suitable material, such as light metal, plastic, or wood, but if it is to be used exclusively for the relief of headaches, it is essential that the frame member be of light weight material, so that it may be repeatedly used by a headache sufierer without tiring him, and thereby aggravating his suffering.

While I have shown and described what is now thought to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of other forms and expressions. Consequently, I do not limit myself to precise structure shown and described hereinabove, except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A head masssaging device, comprising a pair of substantially identical U-shaped frame members, each having a bight and pair of laterally spaced substantially panallel legs, said frames being arranged in superimposed coextensive relation, a pair of substantially L-shaped levers, one lever being interposed between each pair of superposed legs of said frame, means pivotally, mounting the free end of one arm of each lever to the free ends of one superposed pair of legs whereby to connect said frames together by said free ends of such legs with a lever pivoted therebetween, the other arms of said levers extending towards each other, laterally aligned massage pads carried by the free ends of said last named lever arms, stop means limiting pivotal movement of said levers in directions towards each other, spring means loading each lever for move ment in such directions, and expansive spring means interposed between said bights of said frame to spread the same and the upper ends of said legs, said legs of each of said frames being spaced apart laterally a distance substan-- tially greater than the width of the head of the user.

2. A head massaging device, comprising a least one substantially U-shaped frame having a bight and a pair of laterally spaced legs terminating in free ends, a pair of double-armed levers, means pivotally connecting the fulcrum of a lever to the free end of a frame leg with corresponding arms of said levers extending towards each other across said frame, stop means limiting pivotal,

movement of said arms outwardly of said frame between said legs, spring means connecting the other arms of said levers to said frame and loading said levers for pivotal movement against said stop means, and massaging heads formed:

on the free ends of said first named arms of said levers.

3. A massaging device, comprising a substan- 4 tially U -shaped rame including a pair of laterally spaced legs adapted to straddle an area to be massaged, said legs terminating in free ends, a pair of lever arms each including a fulcrum and a free end, means pivotally mounting the fulcrum of each lever arm to a frame leg in the region of a free end, said arms being pivotally movable from extended positions wherein said arms extend towards each other across said frame with said free ends of said arms in substantial abutment to retracted positions wherein each of said arms extends susbtantiall along its leg, spring means loading said lever arms to said, extended positions, stop means limiting pivotal movement of said arms in extending directions to said extended positions, and massaging heads carried by said free ends of said lever arms.

4. A massaging device, comprising a frame including spaced and opposed fname portions, a pair of levers, means pivotally mounting said levers at their fulcrums on said frame portions, each lever having a free end, spring means loading each of said levers for pivotal movement in an opposite direction to an extended position wherein said levers .are positioned in substantial alignment with a free end of each of such levers in substantially abutting relation, said levers being pivotally movable in opposite directions to retracted positions wherein said levers are disposed in spaced and substantially parallel relation, and massaging heads formed on said free ends of said levers.

5. A massaging device, comprising a frame including spaced and opposed frame members, a pair of opposed massaging members, means mounting said members on said opposed frame members for movement in opposite directions from extended positions wherein said massaging members are in substantial abutment to retracted positions wherein said massaging members are in substantially widely spaced and opposed relation, and spring means loading said massaging members into said extended positions.

6. A massaging device, comprising a frame including a pair of spaced and opposed frame portions, a pair. of opposed massaging members, means pivotally mounting said members on said opposed frame portions for pivotal movement in opposite directions to and from extended positions wherein said massaging members are in substantial abutment and retracted positions wherein said massaging members are in substantially widely spaced and opposed relation,

and spring means loading said-massaging members to said extended positions.

ELMER R. CARLSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

